Well, this should give everyone something fresh to Tweet about.
Days after RuPaul extended an olive branch to his critics for appearing to represent an old-guard (and no we’re not calling him old) view on gender within the drag community, an episode of Drag Race All-Stars is set to air that features House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, another progressive figure who’s received criticism from the left.
And while it’s a good thing that we hold our leaders’ feet to the coals, let’s not forget just how much RuPaul and Pelosi have done to further LGBTQ causes.
Pelosi, for her part, spearheaded a fully-inclusive hate crimes bill under President Obama, she led the effort to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and fought against Republicans who defended DOMA. For decades she’s advocated for women’s rights and marriage equality, and since entering Congress in 1987 has fought for federal attention to fight HIV/AIDS.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
She also seems to have endorsed a pro-life, anti-gay Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois this week (eesh), and we fully support raising some hell over it.
We won’t even get into the many positive forces RuPaul has unleashed into the world.
So let’s all take a moment to recognize that our leaders are complicated, human and flawed, continue to speak up when something they do doesn’t sit right, and get back to the issue that’s really weighing on everyone this week:
The episode airs Thursday night on VH1 at 8pm Eastern.
Discover more
Jaxton
Oh look – here’s RuPaul with his male-dominated show.
DCguy
Oh ,you mean the show where his head judge is a woman and where he consistently has female guest judges?
Please tell Putin and the RNC to send better trolls, you’re terrible at this.
Ummmm Yeah
Oh look it’s a show created by a gay man for drag queens that is being attack from within by trans invaders.
DCguy
It’s funny when one troll screename defends it’s other screename.
Hussain-TheCanadian
Calling Nancy Pelosi progressive is akin to calling Donald Trump a socialist, both are ridiculous assertions, and no where within the leftist intellectual circles, or any actual socialist would consider Pelosi a progressive in any stretch of the imagination.
Many Americans, unfortunately, for the first time are learning what an actual progressive leftist is; better late than never I guess.
As for Mama-Ru, hooka can invite whomever she wants, its her show. However I would of invited someone else, a true ally, not a woman who still refuses to adopt universal healthcare, cutting down military spending, and closing down those military bases all over the planet.
vegwell
The tiresome, know-it-all alt left newbies need to sit down a minute and learn something. The root of the word “progressive” is progress. If you think Bernie Sanders, for example, has been the cause of any progress, after 26 years in Congress, then you are confused about how laws get passed in this country. Bernie has introduced a total of 3 bills that have passed both houses and become law, in 26 years, and 2 of those were naming post offices. He also voted for the crime bill of 1994, for the de-regulation bill that actually caused the 2008 crash (and it wasn’t Glass Steagall) and against the Kennedy/McCain immigration bill, which was the last serious attempt at updating immigration laws in this country. He’s a fraud who talks a good game but hasn’t actually accomplished a damn thing. He could not have actually gotten single payer health care, or free college, or any of his other proposals through Congress, but he left that minor fact out of his lofty rhetoric preached to people who really have no idea how the government works. It’s not that Nancy Pelosi “refuses” to “adopt” universal healthcare. #1 The Dems have not controlled the House since 2010, so she is not Speaker and has no control over what comes for a vote. The Dems have fought for decreasing military spending, but as you might have noticed with recent budget negotiations (which are not yet final, btw) it’s not something that anyone can unilaterally do. And she certainly does not, and never has had, the power to close military bases.
Speaking of military spending, you may not know that the Russia backed Senator Sanders has fought tooth and nail for the F 35 bomber, a plane with so many problems that the DOD doesn’t even want it. Why does Mr. “Cut defense spending” fight so hard for a trillion dollar piece of equipment that the military doesn’t even want? Because one of the places it is built is…get ready for it….Vermont. Bernie Sanders is a rabid hypocritical talker who does nothing but attack the people who have actually gotten things done.
Pelosi was masterful at getting the ACA through Congress. A lesser Speaker might not have been able to do it. And while the ACA was not the end of the fight for universal health care, and no one thought that it was, or would be, you might want to refresh your memory on how difficult that was to get through both Houses of Congress and signed into law, how hard the GOP fought and continues to fight it, and the price the Dems paid for even that imperfect piece of legislation.
And there are plenty of leftist-intellectual circles, including people who actually have a clue how the government works, who do recognize Pelosi as progressive. The newbie beginner loud mouth circles to which you belong have no patent on progressivism, nor do you have any relationship to intellectualism.
Hussain-TheCanadian
@Vegwell
Let me see, I don’t know where to begin, but I’ll make this short and sweet:
I have no idea why you assume I’m part of a “beginner know it all alt-left” – I’m 34 years old, and been a socialist since I was 17, so im not sure I understand why you brought up Bernie Sanders, his voting record, or how is that relevant to the 2008 crash. I like Bernie, but only within the American context; here in Canada, he’d be part of the liberal party, and to the right of the NDP, which is a Democratic Socialist party, something you guys lack in the US – So your assumption that I like/support this bill or that just bec. Bernie introduced it is misplaced.
Since you brought up the 2008 crash, at that time, the democrats controlled all levers of power; I didn’t see them pass any progressive legislation of any kind.
The F35 program is the biggest government given welfare program on the planet, with unlimited funding giving to a failed project that has nothing do to with legitimate defense spending. Bernie’s support or lack thereof of such waste and theft is beside the point. Currently, the American empire is building 10 bases in northern Syria, this need to stop.
As for Pelosi, shes no progressive. She’s a corporate owned pimp, who amassed over a $100 million dollars in wealth over 25 years while being in government. If this is not corruption, I don’t know want is. Your support of her is all the evidence one needs to know who is the newbie beginner who is ideologically inclined towards the powerful, rather than the oppressed.
mhoffman953
@Hussain-TheCanadian
I disagree with you about nearly everything on here, but I agree with one point. How can a member of Congress making about $150,000 – $200,000 per year amass over $100 million in wealth from never working in the private sector?
Same goes for other swamp creatures in politics. Bernie Sanders is just as crooked as the rest
Xzamilloh
Give it up, Pelosi. The Democrats spoke louder than the Republicans and we don’t want your corporatist nonsense anymore. You, Feinstein, Schumer, Kaine, and the rest of you bought and paid shills need to go. And Queerty, you have a lot of nerve trying to use her pro-LGBT stances as some way to gloss over her piss poor track record on other stances the Democratic populace stand for, free healthcare, a livable wage, college, and the fact that we have elected officials who are more complicit with Trump’s draconian policies in secret than they are in public. They could easily run on the things I said that Democrats are in favor of, but what do we hear? Trump’s a meanie, Trump said this, Trump said that… Russia, Russia, Russia!!! Sure, Jan.
It’s amazing how ass backwards Republicans are being right now, and practically handing Democrats a Midterm election stampede, but these idiots STILL manage to discourage their base from voting because we know it’s gonna be more of the same “compromising” and “Bipartisan” bullcrap that Republicans laugh at. Weak sauce
vegwell
The quickest way to figure out how much someone actually knows about politics and government is to look at the buzz words they use. “Corporatist” and “neo-liberal” are two telltale markers of inexperienced and ignorant true believers who just started paying attention to politics, but already think they are experts.
BTW, you are not the Democratic Party’s base.The real base has been turning out in record numbers, however. And if you don’t have the sense to vote, then you are as much of a problem as any Republican.
Ronbo
Nancy did act on behalf of gays in the military in pushing forward on legislation in the House to repeal DADT, the legislation pushed by Hillary and signed by Bill that established legal discrimination AGAINST GLBT when they used their First Amendment rights. She showed courage when President Obama was pushing for her to delay action until AFTER the election… the election which was predicted and did sweep Republicans into power. Had she followed Obama’s demand to wait, we’d have not repealed the repugnant Clinton policy, DADT. Fuckin’ neolibs!
That said… Pelosi is an awful, Awful, AWFUL Democrat who is well past her prime and has not been effective in much else… other than getting richer, and richer and richer while watching ordinary citizens get poorer and poorer and poorer.
Like Obama and Bill, she’d make a great 1980’s economic Republican. It’s sad how far right this nation has moved. Even Democrats don’t support single payer healthcare. With Democrats like this, we’d never had gotten Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Sad that we still have cheerleaders for the pathetic Republican-on-policy Hillary.
Ummmm Yeah
I am certainly not far left and my head isn’t exploding but you would think she would be doing more important things than going on TV shows.
DCguy
Interesting, so Trump can spend over 100 days playing golf for his first year in as President but you complain that Pelosi is showing support for a gay lead, drag themed show….
Oh wait, that’s right, you anti-lgbt trolls only hate people who aren’t bigoted Republicans.
Ummmm Yeah
Interesting that you can’t seem to comprehend after being told multiple times, I don’t like Trump either. I didn’t vote for him.
DCguy
Awww, how adorable, one of the troll screenames that consistently comes in here attacking EVERYBODY except anti-lgbt Republicans, and especially freaks out whenever Trump, Melania, or Ivanka is mentioned, wants to deflect attention off of Trumps 100 vacation days by pretending he doesn’t like Trump.
Hmmmm, can you go back to Trolling 101, you’re not great.
Nuttypea
Why does the “RuPaul” search link for Queerty not have an article about what he said? It has an article on the reaction to what was said, and a bunch of articles about how great dragrace is, but no article specifically discussing or quoting what RuPaul said.
Ummmm Yeah
Because the only disgrace is the constant trans invasion of all things gay. Then them destroying everything gays have created once they force their way in.
mhoffman953
After that ass kissing of Nancy Pelosi, I truly believe, more than ever, that Queerty is cashing checks from the DNC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEWZntPhQ4k
DCguy
And one of the OTHER screenames of our resident anti-lgbt troll is trying the old right wing tactic of…..
Cry loudly that every media channel is liberally biased, and try to get them to move right as a defense.
Sweetie, ….Ya Boring.
mhoffman953
@DCguy
I never said anyone has to move right or left. I’m just saying that people should be independent thinkers
Plus your “muh multiple screen names” shtick is getting old. Go scream at the sky and cry about Russia
DCguy
Ohhhh, sweetie, the only reason you’re getting tired of my pointing out the multiple screenames for the same troll is because you keep getting caught by it.
mhoffman953
@DCguy
The only reason you’re using the “multiple screen name” tactic is to discredit someone’s opinion when in fact you are the one with multiple screen names. You go by the name Cam on here also but then accuse others of having multiple screen name.
You use that tactic when you realize you’re losing an argument so that it cam become a distraction when you can’t create an intelligent response. Nice try, Cam
quitter
That’s a curious choice of headline for an article that mostly just makes a conspicuous pivot into “nobody’s perfect” apologia. Whose heads are supposed to be exploding, exactly? Why is opposing transphobia a “far left” issue? Only because establishment democrats have a history of failure there and the “far left” are willing to speak up about it instead of toeing the line. And what does criticizing Pelosi’s politics have to do with transphobia within the lgbt community, other than that the “far left” speaks up about it? “Far left” is a cute nickname for principled voters that are tired of watching democrats buckle to increasingly reactionary republican and corporate interests that are never going to meet them halfway at the expense of the well-being of actual human beings. Pelosi endorsing an anti-choice homophobe isn’t a small blemish from the distant past, it’s an ongoing part of a pattern of appeasement and center-of-the-aisle politics that puts her career above her constituents. Y’all should know better than anyone that you can’t shame marginalized voices into compliance. Do better.
Brody
Didn’t you hear? They’re free of an agenda.
I know this because it says so, right in their logo.
DCguy
And a THIRD of the anti-lgbt troll’s screenames.
Hey Brody, Which adgenda are you talking about? The one where the Republican Party has an anti-lgbt plank in their platform? The one where after he almost tanked the economy of Indianna by pushing an anti-lgbt bill the Republicans picked Mike Pence as their VP, the one where Georgia is now passing a law to outlaw gay adoptions, or the one where state employeed backed by the GOP are refusing to marry lgbt couples.
Is THAT what you mean by “Agenda”?
DCguy
The issue with trying to use the labels of “Left” or “Right” is that they haven’t taken into consideration the huge move the parties have made over the last few decades.
It is ridiculous that media now considers Having health insurance, and being paid fairly for a job as “Far Left Positions”.
If you talk to anybody from Europe they will say they consider the American Democrats a center right party and the Republican party as a crazy right wing fringe group.
Remember, one of the BARGAINING CHIPS that the GOP recently used, was CHIP,,,,,,healthcare for children. They used kids health as a BARGAINING CHIP and media treated it like it was a left/right political debate.
No, that’s a debate between a political party and a party seeking to line it’s pockets by harming others.
mhoffman953
@DCguy
And even after Republicans threw in more funding for CHIP in a spending bill (something most people on both sides would be okay with), the Democrats still obstructed because citizenship for illegals wasn’t included in a spending bill. The Democrats shut down the government over people who are not American citizens. Let that sink in
DCguy
Hey Troll screename.
Why should the Republicans be USING funding CHIP as a bargaining chip? Oh, that’s right, because they were using children’s health as a bargaining tactic because they were opposed to it.
But thanks for the response that changed nothing.
Oh, and by the way, the GOP platform has anti-lgbt planks, weird how you never bring that up.
mhoffman953
@DCguy
If the GOP was completely opposed to it, they wouldn’t be the ones bringing it to the table to avoid a government shutdown. They could’ve brought a litany of other issues to the table but chose that one. Do you know why? It was to show that the Democrats won’t even support American children when they were crying about rights for illegals in the US. The Democrats still voted ‘no’ when the GOP wanted both parties to come together for AMERICAN children. The Dems turned their back and still resisted
What exactly are the Democrats resisting anymore? Defeating ISIS? CHIP? Lower taxes? Lower unemployment? More jobs? Booming stock market? Civic pride? The Bill of Rights?
All I ever see are establishment Democrats supporting people who don’t even live in this country. They pander to those people over actual Americans because they need a larger voting base. But go ahead and keep sipping that Koolaid…
alanballs
Good for RU and good for NANCY It’ll be a great episode. Ru is about INclusion and FUN. Do you trolls and jaded, sarcastic snarks remember what FUN is? I swear, so many of your US Americans have just lost it. Learn to play well with others, OK?